Editing Super Smash Bros.

{{ArticleIcons|ssb=y|fa=y}}{{Cquote|Something's gone wrong in the happy-go-lucky world of Nintendo!|cite=North American commercial}}

|image = {{tabber|width=250px|title1=American boxart|tab1=[[File:SSB64 box.png|250px]]|title2=European boxart|tab2=[[File:Box ssb pal.jpg|250px]]|title3=Japanese boxart|tab3=[[File:Box ssb j.jpg|250px]]}}

|genre = {{s|wikipedia|Fighting game}}<br>[[wikipedia:Platform game|Platforming]]

|modes = {{s|wikipedia|Single-player}}, {{s|wikipedia|multiplayer}} (2-4)

|ratings = {{s|wikipedia|ESRB}}: E<br>{{s|wikipedia|PEGI}}: 7<br>{{s|wikipedia|OFLC}}: G8+

''Super Smash Bros.'' received positive reviews, with most praise going to its multiplayer mode, while its single-player mode received some criticism. The game has sold 5 million units worldwide as of 2001, making it the fifth best-selling Nintendo 64 game of all time.

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The game features nine stages derived from each character's universe, exceptions being {{uv|EarthBound}} and {{uv|F-Zero}}. While most universes receive a single stage, {{uv|Mario}} uniquely has two instead: [[Peach's Castle]] and the only unlockable stage in the game, [[Mushroom Kingdom]]. Besides of that, the other stages consist of [[Congo Jungle]], [[Hyrule Castle]], [[Planet Zebes]], {{SSB|Yoshi's Island}}, {{SSB|Dream Land}}, [[Sector Z]], and [[Saffron City]] from {{uv|Donkey Kong}}, {{uv|The Legend of Zelda}}, {{uv|Metroid}}, {{uv|Yoshi}}, {{uv|Kirby}}, {{uv|Star Fox}}, and {{uv|Pokémon}} respectively.

|width="20%"|[[File:PeachCastleSSB.jpg|100x100px|link=Peach's Castle]]<br>[[Peach's Castle]]<br>{{symbol|smb|20px|suffix=preBrawl}}

|width="20%"|[[File:MushroomKingdom64.jpg|100x100px|link=Mushroom Kingdom (SSB)]]<br>'''{{SSB|Mushroom Kingdom}}'''<br>{{symbol|smb|20px|suffix=preBrawl}}

|[[File:YoshisStorySSB.png|100x100px|link=Yoshi's Island (SSB)]]<br>{{SSB|Yoshi's Island}}<br>{{symbol|yoshi|20px|suffix=preBrawl}}

|width="20%"|[[File:CongoJungle.png|100x100px|link=Kongo Jungle]]<br>[[Kongo Jungle|Congo Jungle]]<br>{{symbol|dk|20px|suffix=preBrawl}}

|width="20%"|[[File:HyruleCastleSSB.png|100x100px |link=Hyrule Castle]]<br>[[Hyrule Castle]]<br>{{symbol|zelda|20px}}

|width="20%"|[[File:PlanetZebesSSB.png|100x100px|link=Planet Zebes]]<br>[[Planet Zebes]]<br>{{symbol|metroid|20px|suffix=preBrawl}}

|[[File:DreamLandSSB.png|100x100px|link=Dream Land (SSB)]]<br>[[Dream Land]]<br>{{symbol|kirby|20px}}

|[[File:SectorZSSB.png|100x100px|link=Sector Z]]<br>[[Sector Z]]<br />{{symbol|fox|20px|suffix=preBrawl}}

|[[File:SaffronCitySSB.png|100x100px|link=Saffron City]]<br>[[Saffron City]]<br>{{symbol|pkmn|20px|suffix=preBrawl}}

<small>Shown in '''bold''', ''Mushroom Kingdom'' is the only unlockable stage in ''Super Smash Bros.''</small>

|width=14%|[[File:Mario Target Smash SSB.png|100x100px|link=Break the Targets]]<br />[[Break the Targets]]<br />{{symbol|smash|20px}}

|width=14%|[[File:Mario Board the Platforms.png|100x100px|link=Board the Platforms]]<br />[[Board the Platforms]]<br />{{symbol|smash|20px}}

|width=14%|[[File:Rttf64.JPG|100x100px|link=Race to the Finish (SSB)]]<br />{{SSB|Race to the Finish}}<br />{{symbol|smash|20px}}

|width=14%|[[File:YoshisStorySSB.png|100x100px|link=Yoshi's Island (SSB)]]<br />{{SSB|Yoshi's Island}}*<br />{{symbol|yoshi|20px|suffix=preBrawl}}

|width=14%|[[File:MetaCrystal.png|100x100px|link=Meta Crystal]]<br />[[Meta Crystal]]<br />{{symbol|met|20px}}{{symbol|smash|20px}}

|width=14%|[[File:Battlefield 64.png|100x100px|link=Duel Zone]]<br />[[Duel Zone]]<br />{{symbol|smash|20px}}

|width=14%|[[File:FinalDestinationSSB.png|100x100px|link=Final Destination (SSB)]]<br />{{SSB|Final Destination}}<br />{{symbol|smash|20px}}

<small>These stages only appear in the ''1P Game''.<br>*The 1P Game-only ''Yoshi's Island'' lacks clouds and has closer blast zones.</small>

|width="33%"|[[File:KirbyBeta1N64.png|100x100px|link=Small]]<br />[[Small]]<br />{{symbol|kirby|20px}}{{symbol|smash|20px}}

|width="33%"|[[File:KirbyBeta2.png|100x100px|link=New]]<br />[[New]]<br />{{symbol|kirby|20px}}{{symbol|smash|20px}}

|width="33%"|[[File:Tutorial Stage SSB.png|100x100px|link=Tutorial Stage]]<br />[[Tutorial Stage]]<br />{{symbol|kirby|20px}}{{symbol|smash|20px}}

<small>These stages cannot be unlocked or played on in any way without hacking.</small>

* [[1P Game]]

* [[Training Mode]]

* [[Target Smash!|Break the Targets]]

* [[Board the Platforms]]

* [[Versus Mode]]

 

 

 

After development on the {{iw|wikirby|Kirby Super Star}} wrapped in 1996, creator [[Masahiro Sakurai]] wanted to create another property. He developed two different prototypes concurrently: a stealth and exploration based RC robot adventure game, and a four player free-for-all fighting game with no health bars. A long-time fan of fighting games, particularly games developed by [[SNK]], he was interested in making a beginner friendly fighting game for four players. A specific inspiration for such an idea came from an experience at a local arcade where he had a winning streak on ''King of Fighters '95'' and felt pleased with himself, only to feel guilty upon realizing his opponent was a beginner and their partner. This inspired Sakurai to design a game that would be fun regardless of skill level.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.theguardian.com/games/2018/aug/08/super-smash-bros-ultimate-masahiro-sakurai-35-years-gaming-history-nintendo | title = From Kong to Kirby: Smash Bros' Masahiro Sakurai on mashing up 35 years of gaming history | first=Keza | last = MacDonald | date = August 8, 2018 | access-date = February 26, 2020 | work = The Guardian }}</ref> He also was concerned about combos pervading the fighting game genre and felt they invalidated the skills of those subjected to them. [[Command-input move]]s were also becoming increasingly complex, and Sakurai wanted controls that tested speed and reflexes instead of muscle memory, which culminated in [[tilt attack]]s and [[smash attack]]s that can be performable with a wide range of skill levels while still having a level of depth and strategy.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3IOWaVDbx0|title=Super Smash Bros.|publisher=YouTube|date=2022-10-20|accessdate=2022-10-20}}</ref>

His initial design for the game was called ''Kakuto-Geemu Ryuoh'' (''[[Dragon King: The Fighting Game]]''),<ref name="Hobby"/> which featured simple characters. After presenting the game to co-worker [[Satoru Iwata]], he helped Sakurai continue on with the project. Realizing that the RC game would take much longer to develop, he shelved the concept and went all in on this fighting game. Understanding that many fighting games did not sell well, Sakurai strove to make his game original.<ref name= Hobby/> After presenting a pre-alpha demo to HAL Laboratory, he was approached by a fellow employee who suggested the game should include famous Nintendo characters as a way to market the game.<ref name="Hobby"/> Initially hesitant about the idea, he was later convinced and began retooling his demo. Sakurai has since claimed that filling a game with preexisting characters is more welcoming to new players instead of bombarding them with many original characters they are unfamiliar with. Knowing full well that he would not receive permission to include their characters, Sakurai created a prototype of the game without sanction from Nintendo and did not inform them until he was sure the game was well-balanced.<ref name="Hobby"/> The prototype he presented featured [[Mario]], [[Donkey Kong]], [[Samus Aran]], and [[Fox McCloud]] as playable characters. The idea was later approved.<ref name="Hobby">{{cite web|url=http://iwataasks.nintendo.com/interviews/#/wii/ssbb/6/0|title=Iwata Asks: Super Smash Bros. Brawl|publisher=Nintendo|accessdate=2008-01-31}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nintendo.co.jp/wii/interview/rsbj/vol7/index.html|title=社長が訊く『大乱闘スマッシュブラザーズX』|trans_title=Iwata Asks: Super Smash Bros. Brawl|publisher=Nintendo|language=Japanese|accessdate=2008-01-31}}</ref> Although never acknowledged by Sakurai or any developers behind ''Super Smash Bros.'', third party sources have identified [[Namco]]'s 1995 fighting game ''{{s|wikipedia|The Outfoxies}}'' as a possible inspiration.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.destructoid.com/six-days-to-smash-bros-brawl-top-five-smash-bros-alternatives-71897.phtml|title=Six Days to Smash Bros. Brawl: Top Five Smash Bros alternatives|last=Holmes|first=Jonathan|date=March 3, 2008|work=Destructoid|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304112703/http://www.destructoid.com/six-days-to-smash-bros-brawl-top-five-smash-bros-alternatives-71897.phtml|archive-date=March 4, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gamesradar.com/15-smash-bros-rip-offs-couldnt-outdo-nintendo/2/|title=15 Smash Bros. rip-offs that couldn't outdo Nintendo|last=Sullivan|first=Lucas|date=September 19, 2014|website=GamesRadar+|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171115002115/http://www.gamesradar.com/15-smash-bros-rip-offs-couldnt-outdo-nintendo/2/|archive-date=November 15, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[HAL Laboratory]] was assigned as primary developers, as Sakurai was employed by them at the time. While Sakurai and Iwata were initially the only developers, as other projects in HAL Laboratory either were finished or fell through, more employees were brought on the project to assist them. Multiple characters, including [[Marth]], [[King Dedede]], [[Bowser]], and [[Mewtwo]] were planned to be playable at one point, but were all cut for various reasons.  

Marketing teams and wholesalers were initially skeptical on the market viability of ''Super Smash Bros.'', as they were unsure how the public would respond to Nintendo characters fighting each other. Resistance from fighting game players were also met during the launch period, as they had many preconceptions of what a fighting game is and were uncomfortable with a wildly different product labeling itself as a fighting game. To alleviate this tension, Sakurai created the [[Smabura-Ken]] website that delved into the game's different concepts.

''Super Smash Bros.'' was a commercial success, selling 5 million copies worldwide with 2.93 million sold in the United States and 1.97 million copies sold in Japan. It was the 5th best selling game for the [[Nintendo 64]]. Reviews were mostly positive, with many critics praising the game's addictive and fun multiplayer gameplay and simple controls, but it was criticized as well, mainly due to the game's lower amount of content and somewhat limited single-player mode.

''Smash 64'' has always had a small, niche competitive scene relative to ''Brawl'' and ''Smash 4''. Unlike those entries, the scene has increased in popularity over the years instead of falling off when the next entry releases. This is mostly due to the scene embracing [[Project64k|emulation]] and other unconventional methods of play quicker than the others, which allowed them to smoothly transition to online play, especially during the 2020 pandemic. The scene was also the first and currently most popular to run the [[Combo Contest]] due to the game engine allowing for great amounts of freedom in that department. The scene is also kept alive with [[mod]]s such as [[Smash Remix]], which expands on the game's content while keeping core elements intact.

SSB64CASTWB.gif|A image of the cast from the SSB64 Website.

*The starting eight characters are placed in the order of when they first appeared (as a whole) in their respective debut titles on the [[character selection screen]], starting with the oldest, [[Mario]] and [[Donkey Kong]], and ending with the most recent, [[Pikachu]]. This same order is used when listing the cast of the original ''Super Smash Bros.'' in later games, such as when organizing [[Trophy|trophies]] and [[fighter number]]s. This chronological ordering also applies to the four unlockable characters on the character selection screen, though this is only relative to each other and not the other characters.

*This game is one of two ''Super Smash Bros.'' games to not feature Adventure Mode, the second being ''[[Super Smash Bros. 4]]''.  

*This game is one of two ''Super Smash Bros.'' games to not feature All-Star Mode, the second being ''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate''.

*Although the iQue player has a built-in controller, a message, albeit in Chinese, exists dictating that the controller is not plugged in.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tcrf.net/Super_Smash_Bros./Regional_Differences#No_Controller|title=No Controller}}</ref>

*[http://web.archive.org/web/19991117175759/http://smashbros.com/ Official English ''Super Smash Bros.'' website (archived)]

*[https://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/vq2LDXcejXQ2vNjNkcQAv6ylA5y9lMzu Official North American Virtual Console ''Super Smash Bros.'' game page]